RACING DE SANTANDER
08-09 LA LIGA STANDING: 12th
Racing Santander heads into a brand new La Liga season with much uncertainty. Racing finished last year just 4 points above the relegation zone and based on their moves this off-season (or lack thereof) it seems like Racing won’t be able to aspire for greater success in the Spanish Primera in 2009-2010. Juan Carlos Mandía is the new manager for Racing, replacing Juan Ramón López Muñiz. Juan Carlos Mandía has never coached in the top flight although he has some managerial experience in Spain’s second division. But everyone knows coaching in the second division is completely different that coaching in the first division. We’ll have to see how Mandía makes his transition as a coach in the top flight and how he deals with the pressures of La Liga.
Another problem that Racing faces is the lack of depth at the striker position. Nikola Zigic, former three-time Serbian Player of the Year, led Racing in scoring last season with 13 goals, but he won’t be back this year. Mohammed Tchité, who scored 6 goals last year, will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season with a knee injury. There is talk that Racing wants to sign Newcastle striker Xisco before the transfer window closes next week, but Racing wants a lower price and time is running out. Swiss forward Alexandre Geijo signed this summer for the next four seasons, but he may not be at 100% at the start of the league this weekend since he is coming off an injury as well. Racing also lost a pivotal component of their defense in Ezequiel Garay. The Argentine defender ended his two-year loan at Racing and will now integrate Real Madrid’s first squad.
One bright spot for Racing is the pickup of Spanish international Luis Javier García Sanz. The former striker for Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Barcelona won the 2004-2005 UEFA Champions League and his experience can give Racing some much needed help in their attack.
MARKET MOVEMENT
PLAYERS IN:
Iván Bolado (Elche), Juanjo (Alavés), Brian Sarmiento (Xerez), Ismodes (Eibar), Szetela (Brescia), Arana (Castellón), Crespo (Sevilla), Morris (Panathinaikos), Torrejón (Espanyol), Pape Diop (Nástic), Sepsi (Benfica), Alex Geijo (Levante), Luís García (Atl. Madrid)
PLAYERS OUT:
Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Vitolo (PAOK Salonica), Jonathan Pereira (Villarreal), Valera (Atl. Madrid), Luccin (Zaragoza), Zigic (Valencia), Luis Fernández (Free agent), Marcano (Villarreal), Jonathan Valle (Free agent), Gonçalves (Vitoria Guimaraes), Cristian Portilla (Free agent), Smolarek (Free agent), Ismodes (Sporting Cristal)
08-09 LA LIGA STANDING: 12th
Racing Santander heads into a brand new La Liga season with much uncertainty. Racing finished last year just 4 points above the relegation zone and based on their moves this off-season (or lack thereof) it seems like Racing won’t be able to aspire for greater success in the Spanish Primera in 2009-2010. Juan Carlos Mandía is the new manager for Racing, replacing Juan Ramón López Muñiz. Juan Carlos Mandía has never coached in the top flight although he has some managerial experience in Spain’s second division. But everyone knows coaching in the second division is completely different that coaching in the first division. We’ll have to see how Mandía makes his transition as a coach in the top flight and how he deals with the pressures of La Liga.
Another problem that Racing faces is the lack of depth at the striker position. Nikola Zigic, former three-time Serbian Player of the Year, led Racing in scoring last season with 13 goals, but he won’t be back this year. Mohammed Tchité, who scored 6 goals last year, will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season with a knee injury. There is talk that Racing wants to sign Newcastle striker Xisco before the transfer window closes next week, but Racing wants a lower price and time is running out. Swiss forward Alexandre Geijo signed this summer for the next four seasons, but he may not be at 100% at the start of the league this weekend since he is coming off an injury as well. Racing also lost a pivotal component of their defense in Ezequiel Garay. The Argentine defender ended his two-year loan at Racing and will now integrate Real Madrid’s first squad.
One bright spot for Racing is the pickup of Spanish international Luis Javier García Sanz. The former striker for Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Barcelona won the 2004-2005 UEFA Champions League and his experience can give Racing some much needed help in their attack.
MARKET MOVEMENT
PLAYERS IN:
Iván Bolado (Elche), Juanjo (Alavés), Brian Sarmiento (Xerez), Ismodes (Eibar), Szetela (Brescia), Arana (Castellón), Crespo (Sevilla), Morris (Panathinaikos), Torrejón (Espanyol), Pape Diop (Nástic), Sepsi (Benfica), Alex Geijo (Levante), Luís García (Atl. Madrid)
PLAYERS OUT:
Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Vitolo (PAOK Salonica), Jonathan Pereira (Villarreal), Valera (Atl. Madrid), Luccin (Zaragoza), Zigic (Valencia), Luis Fernández (Free agent), Marcano (Villarreal), Jonathan Valle (Free agent), Gonçalves (Vitoria Guimaraes), Cristian Portilla (Free agent), Smolarek (Free agent), Ismodes (Sporting Cristal)
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